WKRN, Nashville, Tennessee News, Weather, and Sports |French judge targets Chirac over party jobs scam
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PARIS (AP) - A French judge filed preliminary charges against former President Jacques Chirac on Friday over allegations that Paris City Hall paid for jobs in his political party when he was mayor.
The case, which in 2004 led to the conviction of former Prime Minister Alain Juppe, is just the latest legal headache for Chirac. On Oct. 30, a judge ordered the former president to stand trial for embezzlement and breach of trust in an alleged corruption case also linked to his term as mayor.
An investigating judge questioned Chirac on Friday about seven jobs at his former conservative party that were improperly paid for by City Hall or by construction companies while he was mayor of Paris. He served from 1977 to 1995, the year he became president.
Chirac was placed under investigation - meaning that the investigating judge has ruled there is strong evidence to suggest involvement in a crime. It also gives investigators more time to decide whether to send a suspect to trial or drop the case.
Were Chirac to go to trial on this latest issue, he would face up to five years in prison and risk a fine of up to euro75,000 ($107,000) if convicted.
On the earlier case in which Chirac is being sent to trial, he risks up to 10 years in prison, and a fine of up to euro150,000 - though observers say a prison sentence would be highly unlikely. It will mark the first time a former leader of modern France is forced to stand trial. No date has been set.
A statement from his office said Chirac hoped the judicial process would move quickly "so that it will be shown definitively that he can be faulted for nothing."
While Chirac was president from 1995 to 2007, investigating judges went after him unsuccessfully in corruption scandals. He used his presidential immunity to keep them at arm's length. After he left office, the dockets were reopened.
Friday's move revives a case that had already embarrassed Chirac and netted a conviction in 2003 against one of his top proteges, Juppe, who was convicted for his role in the scheme while serving as finance director at City Hall under Chirac.
Juppe received a 14-month suspended sentence and a yearlong ban from politics.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
